The Cuban team clearly beat Chinese Taipei 7-1 in the 2023 World Classic and the activities of group A are red waiting for the duel between Italy and the Netherlands.
Team Cuba stays alive with a dominant win. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/ra8iiRPhBs
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2023
The Cubans lost to the Netherlands, then they lost to Italy – in a pit 0-2 incident and dealing with questions about team unity and why no one was hitting. How could Cuba, a historically great country in baseball, do so poorly internationally?
Police Armando Johnson confirmed the patient. And the Cubans recovered well.
Johnson’s team defeated Panama 13-4, clicking in all parts of the game. And then, in the final match of Round 1 on Sunday, they dominated a fiery Chinese Taipei quarter 7-1, keeping alive their hopes of traveling to Tokyo for Round 2.
Here’s what you need to know about the match;
Like their win against Panama, Cuba was crushing the ball from all sides.
First, their hitting: They scored four quick runs in the first, knocking the stubborn Chinese Taipei crowd out of the game.
Yoán Moncada, who has warmed up in recent days, hit a run-scoring double into left-center field, Luis Robert hit an error and later WBC legend Alfredo Despaigne hit a two-RBI double into the hole.
Erisbel Arruebarrena added to the injury with a two-run shutout in the deepest part of the stadium.
Cuba added two more runs in the second. Roel Santos reached to score the run, but was robbed for the second out of the frame. Moncada was next, and continued to hit home with a scorching single to the right.
Santos added a run with an RBI single in the fourth.
Cuba’s pitching staff was also fantastic, resting Chinese Taipei’s hot bats.
Elian Leyva pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings before leaving with apparent hand cramps. Miguel Romero filled in for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Lefty Onelki García singled in two innings.
Now the tie is three ways: Cuba, Chinese Taipei and Panama are 2-2. When both teams beat each other, Cuba would have a tiebreaker in the other two, but there is still more to come. Italy (1-2) is still 2-1 on Sunday. If they beat the Netherlands, Cuba will advance to the next round in Tokyo. But if Italy wins, all teams in Group A will fall 2-2 and the Group A winner/Group runner-up will be determined by tie-breakers to be settled after the conclusion of Sunday’s games.
Source: MLB
